Sunday, November 23, 2008

Recreation Park, Detroit

The Detroit Wolverines played in the NL from 1881 to 1888, when they disbanded, having won one league title in their time. Their park was about a mile north of where the Tigers play today. "Recreation Park" was the public park where the ballpark stood, but as far as I know, there was no specific name for it other than that.

I learned that from the plaque shown on this site. But finding where that plaque was turned out to be difficult, thanks to conflicting info on that page. I finally found the spot, though. See the marker on the map. The picture is looking northwest. I looked at it for way too long--found the brick walkway, compared tree locations, building tops, etc.

Anyway, that plaque claims to be in "the left field" so I made my footprint fit that. I think the park could've been further south, but it should be exactly right east-west-wise, as the Wikipedia page says it was bordered on the east by Beaubien Street, which you can see a little south of where the park is/was.